Before engaging in a detailed analysis of SDPD patrol activity as outlined in the research plan, we created this descriptive analysis to explore overall trends in the SDPD RIPA data. This helps us determine if our expected findings are likely to show up in the data and allows us to identify any trends we did not expect. The analysis includes:
General counts and percents of SDPD stops by key fields in RIPA data, e.g., stop reason, stop result, calls for service, race, age, searches, officer assignment.
In 2022, there were 86,632 unique police stops. Of those stops, 79, 416 were officer-initiated stops. Gang enforcement made 420 unique stops in 2022. Of those stops, 397 were officer-initiated stops.
In 2022, 96,119 people were stopped by SDPD, 88,099 of which were stopped for an officer-initiated stop. Gang enforcement stopped 508 people in 2022; 484 people were stopped for an officer-initiated stop.
The majority of officer time is spent on officer-initiated stops rather than calls for service. This is true across all officer unit types, as well as for the gang enforcement unit.
Analysis cut by all unit types:
Year | Assignment | Call for Service | Total | Count | Percent | Average Stop Time (Mins) | Median Stop Time (Mins) | Min Stop Time (Mins) | Max Stop Time (Mins) | Total Time (Mins) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | No | 86,632 | 79,416 | 91.7 | 27.4 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 2,173,760 |
2022 | All units | Yes | 86,632 | 7,216 | 8.3 | 59.3 | 30.0 | 1 | 1,220 | 428,183 |
Analysis filtered for gang suppression unit:
Year | Assignment | Call for Service | Total | Count | Percent | Average Stop Time (Mins) | Median Stop Time (Mins) | Min Stop Time (Mins) | Max Stop Time (Mins) | Total Time (Mins) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Gang enforcement | No | 420 | 397 | 94.5 | 29.3 | 15 | 1 | 300 | 11,613 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Yes | 420 | 23 | 5.5 | 123.9 | 120 | 20 | 260 | 2,850 |
Analysis cut by SDPD division:
All SDPD divisions spent more than 90% of its time on officer-initiated stops, with the exception of Mid-City and Eastern which spent over 87% of patrol time on officer-initiated stops.
Year | Division Name | Call for Service | Total | Count | Percent | Average Stop Time (Mins) | Median Stop Time (Mins) | Min Stop Time (Mins) | Max Stop Time (Mins) | Total Time (Mins) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | CENTRAL | No | 17,492 | 16,280 | 93.1 | 28.7 | 15.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 466,435 |
2022 | CENTRAL | Yes | 17,492 | 1,212 | 6.9 | 41.5 | 20.0 | 1 | 420 | 50,301 |
2022 | EASTERN | No | 8,599 | 7,707 | 89.6 | 25.6 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,200 | 196,958 |
2022 | EASTERN | Yes | 8,599 | 892 | 10.4 | 61.4 | 30.0 | 1 | 540 | 54,759 |
2022 | MID-CITY | No | 10,033 | 8,798 | 87.7 | 28.4 | 15.0 | 1 | 1,300 | 249,843 |
2022 | MID-CITY | Yes | 10,033 | 1,235 | 12.3 | 52.3 | 30.0 | 2 | 480 | 64,552 |
2022 | NORTHEASTERN | No | 4,541 | 4,139 | 91.1 | 29.9 | 14.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 123,704 |
2022 | NORTHEASTERN | Yes | 4,541 | 402 | 8.9 | 75.9 | 45.0 | 2 | 600 | 30,507 |
2022 | NORTHERN | No | 13,859 | 12,797 | 92.3 | 24.7 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,330 | 315,534 |
2022 | NORTHERN | Yes | 13,859 | 1,062 | 7.7 | 67.1 | 30.0 | 1 | 1,220 | 71,295 |
2022 | NORTHWESTERN | No | 3,401 | 3,250 | 95.6 | 20.9 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,120 | 68,027 |
2022 | NORTHWESTERN | Yes | 3,401 | 151 | 4.4 | 69.8 | 60.0 | 5 | 300 | 10,541 |
2022 | SOUTHEASTERN | No | 7,746 | 7,117 | 91.9 | 28.6 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,400 | 203,877 |
2022 | SOUTHEASTERN | Yes | 7,746 | 629 | 8.1 | 75.0 | 60.0 | 1 | 480 | 47,147 |
2022 | SOUTHERN | No | 7,153 | 6,644 | 92.9 | 28.1 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,000 | 186,385 |
2022 | SOUTHERN | Yes | 7,153 | 509 | 7.1 | 65.6 | 45.0 | 1 | 360 | 33,371 |
2022 | UNKNOWN DIVISION | No | 2,799 | 2,779 | 99.3 | 16.6 | 10.0 | 1 | 1,212 | 46,214 |
2022 | UNKNOWN DIVISION | Yes | 2,799 | 20 | 0.7 | 86.0 | 40.0 | 1 | 540 | 1,720 |
2022 | WESTERN | No | 11,009 | 9,905 | 90.0 | 32.0 | 15.0 | 1 | 1,440 | 316,783 |
2022 | WESTERN | Yes | 11,009 | 1,104 | 10.0 | 58.0 | 30.0 | 1 | 600 | 63,990 |
The number of officer-initiated stops across all police unit types peaked in 2019, with a slight decrease in 2020-2022. The COVID-19 pandemic directly impacted police activity, making it unsurprising that there were less stops conducted overall.
The gang suppression unit has conducted less officer-initiated stops overtime, with a steep drop-off between 2021-2022. Notably, the gang enforcement unit made more officer-initiated stops in 2020 than in 2021 and 2022 combined. This suggests that the numbers are not driven by the COVID-19 pandemic but other reasons. Officers making gang enforcement stops might be doing it under the guise of a different unit assignment, resulting in the gang enforcement stops being under-counted.
Year | All Units Total | Gang Suppression Unit Total |
|---|---|---|
2018 | 69,766 | 1,501 |
2019 | 142,663 | 3,263 |
2020 | 116,754 | 1,592 |
2021 | 104,561 | 643 |
2022 | 79,416 | 397 |
2023 | 21,578 | 95 |
Patrol, traffic enforcement, and field operations conduct the majority of officer-initiated stops, followed by the ‘Other’ unit category. While gang enforcement has the third highest rate of officer-initiated stops the overall count is low. This is most likely due to gang enforcement stops being conducted under a different unit assignment.
Year | Patrol Assignment | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Patrol, traffic enforcement, field operations | 79,416 | 77,386 | 97.4 |
2022 | Other | 79,416 | 1,121 | 1.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 79,416 | 397 | 0.5 |
2022 | Investigative/detective | 79,416 | 304 | 0.4 |
2022 | Narcotics/vice | 79,416 | 108 | 0.1 |
2022 | Special events | 79,416 | 45 | 0.1 |
2022 | K1-12 public school inlcuding school resource officer or school police officer | 79,416 | 43 | 0.1 |
2022 | Task force | 79,416 | 10 | 0.0 |
2022 | Compliance check | 79,416 | 2 | 0.0 |
High rates of officer-initiated stops are consistent across all police divisions.
Year | Division Name | Call for Service | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | CENTRAL | No | 17,492 | 16,280 | 93.1 |
2022 | CENTRAL | Yes | 17,492 | 1,212 | 6.9 |
2022 | EASTERN | No | 8,599 | 7,707 | 89.6 |
2022 | EASTERN | Yes | 8,599 | 892 | 10.4 |
2022 | MID-CITY | No | 10,033 | 8,798 | 87.7 |
2022 | MID-CITY | Yes | 10,033 | 1,235 | 12.3 |
2022 | NORTHEASTERN | No | 4,541 | 4,139 | 91.1 |
2022 | NORTHEASTERN | Yes | 4,541 | 402 | 8.9 |
2022 | NORTHERN | No | 13,859 | 12,797 | 92.3 |
2022 | NORTHERN | Yes | 13,859 | 1,062 | 7.7 |
2022 | NORTHWESTERN | No | 3,401 | 3,250 | 95.6 |
2022 | NORTHWESTERN | Yes | 3,401 | 151 | 4.4 |
2022 | SOUTHEASTERN | No | 7,746 | 7,117 | 91.9 |
2022 | SOUTHEASTERN | Yes | 7,746 | 629 | 8.1 |
2022 | SOUTHERN | No | 7,153 | 6,644 | 92.9 |
2022 | SOUTHERN | Yes | 7,153 | 509 | 7.1 |
2022 | WESTERN | No | 11,009 | 9,905 | 90.0 |
2022 | WESTERN | Yes | 11,009 | 1,104 | 10.0 |
2022 | UNKNOWN DIVISION | No | 2,799 | 2,779 | 99.3 |
2022 | UNKNOWN DIVISION | Yes | 2,799 | 20 | 0.7 |
Traffic Violation is the most common stop reason for officer-initiated stops, followed by Reasonable Suspicion, across all police units and for the gang enforcement unit. However, nearly 70% of all officer-initiated stops conducted by the gang enforcement unit are for Traffic Violation, with only 24% being conducted for Reasonable Suspicion. Traffic Violation stops are a more significant majority of all gang enforcement stops.
Year | Assignment | Reason for stop | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | Traffic Violation | 90,777 | 48,926 | 53.9 |
2022 | All units | Reasonable Suspicion | 90,777 | 39,019 | 43.0 |
2022 | All units | Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person | 90,777 | 1,281 | 1.4 |
2022 | All units | Investigation to determine whether the person was truant | 90,777 | 734 | 0.8 |
2022 | All units | Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision | 90,777 | 553 | 0.6 |
2022 | All units | Consensual Encounter resulting in a search | 90,777 | 262 | 0.3 |
2022 | All units | Determine whether the student violated school policy | 90,777 | 2 | 0.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Traffic Violation | 489 | 341 | 69.7 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Reasonable Suspicion | 489 | 119 | 24.3 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Knowledge of outstanding arrest warrant/wanted person | 489 | 16 | 3.3 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Known to be on Parole / Probation / PRCS / Mandatory Supervision | 489 | 6 | 1.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Investigation to determine whether the person was truant | 489 | 4 | 0.8 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Consensual Encounter resulting in a search | 489 | 3 | 0.6 |
The majority of SDPD divisions conduct officer-initiated stops for Traffic Violation, with the second most common officer-initiated stop being for Reasonable Suspicions. There is no third stop reason that has a rate comparable to Traffic Violation or Reasonable Suspicion.
Notably, the Southeastern division disproportionately stops for Traffic Violation relative to Reasonable Suspicion, along with the Northwestern and Northeastern divisions.
Across all police units, Citation for Infraction and Warning (verbal or written) are the most common stop results, at 27.5% and 25.8% respectively. These two stop results make up approximately half of all stop results.
The gang enforcement unit stop results do not mirror the trends across all police units. The most common stop result for a gang enforcement stop is Field Interview Card Completed, comprising of 40.2% of all stop results. Warning (verbal or written) has the second highest rate at 20.6%.
Year | Assignment | Result of Stop | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | Citation for infraction | 95,543 | 26,229 | 27.5 |
2022 | All units | Warning (verbal or written) | 95,543 | 24,643 | 25.8 |
2022 | All units | Field interview card completed | 95,543 | 12,377 | 13.0 |
2022 | All units | Custodial Arrest without warrant | 95,543 | 10,317 | 10.8 |
2022 | All units | No Action | 95,543 | 9,129 | 9.6 |
2022 | All units | Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant | 95,543 | 4,172 | 4.4 |
2022 | All units | Psychiatric hold | 95,543 | 3,793 | 4.0 |
2022 | All units | In-field cite and release | 95,543 | 3,136 | 3.3 |
2022 | All units | Noncriminal transport or caretaking transport | 95,543 | 1,410 | 1.5 |
2022 | All units | Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor | 95,543 | 330 | 0.3 |
2022 | All units | Contacted U.S. Department of Homeland Security | 95,543 | 3 | 0.0 |
2022 | All units | Referral to school administrator | 95,543 | 3 | 0.0 |
2022 | All units | Referral to school counselor or other support staff | 95,543 | 1 | 0.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Field interview card completed | 500 | 201 | 40.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Warning (verbal or written) | 500 | 103 | 20.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Custodial Arrest without warrant | 500 | 62 | 12.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | No Action | 500 | 51 | 10.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Citation for infraction | 500 | 36 | 7.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Custodial Arrest pursuant to outstanding warrant | 500 | 21 | 4.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Psychiatric hold | 500 | 17 | 3.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | In-field cite and release | 500 | 7 | 1.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Contacted parent/legal guardian or other person responsible for the minor | 500 | 2 | 0.4 |
Stop result trends vary across SDPD divisions.
This analysis looks at what percentage of stops that resulted in a search produced contraband. Approximately 70% of all stops that result in a search do not produce any contraband across all police units and for gang enforcement stops.
Year | Assignment | Contraband | Search Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | None | 18,648 | 73.4 |
2022 | All units | One or more contraband items | 18,648 | 26.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | None | 190 | 70.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | One or more contraband items | 190 | 30.0 |
The gang enforcement unit stops more individuals between the age of 18-34 compared to all police units.
Year | Assignment | Age | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | 18 and under | 88,099 | 3,293 | 3.7 |
2022 | All units | 19-24 | 88,099 | 10,738 | 12.2 |
2022 | All units | 25-34 | 88,099 | 28,760 | 32.6 |
2022 | All units | 35-44 | 88,099 | 20,691 | 23.5 |
2022 | All units | 45-54 | 88,099 | 13,769 | 15.6 |
2022 | All units | 55-64 | 88,099 | 7,846 | 8.9 |
2022 | All units | 65 and older | 88,099 | 3,002 | 3.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 18 and under | 484 | 48 | 9.9 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 19-24 | 484 | 88 | 18.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 25-34 | 484 | 174 | 36.0 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 35-44 | 484 | 95 | 19.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 45-54 | 484 | 41 | 8.5 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 55-64 | 484 | 25 | 5.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | 65 and older | 484 | 13 | 2.7 |
The Southeastern and Northern divisions disproportionately stops individuals age 25-34 relative to other age groups.
The gang enforcement unit disproportionately stops Black and Latinx individuals.
Year | Assignment | Race | Total | Count | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | All units | White NH | 88,099 | 32,133 | 36.5 |
2022 | All units | Latinx | 88,099 | 30,234 | 34.3 |
2022 | All units | Black NH | 88,099 | 16,874 | 19.2 |
2022 | All units | Asian NH | 88,099 | 4,603 | 5.2 |
2022 | All units | SSWANA | 88,099 | 3,051 | 3.5 |
2022 | All units | NHPI | 88,099 | 870 | 1.0 |
2022 | All units | Multiracial | 88,099 | 513 | 0.6 |
2022 | All units | AIAN | 88,099 | 227 | 0.3 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Latinx | 484 | 194 | 40.1 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Black NH | 484 | 157 | 32.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | White NH | 484 | 89 | 18.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Asian NH | 484 | 33 | 6.8 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | SSWANA | 484 | 7 | 1.4 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | AIAN | 484 | 3 | 0.6 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | Multiracial | 484 | 1 | 0.2 |
2022 | Gang enforcement | NHPI | 484 | 0 | 0.0 |
The Southeastern division disproportionately stops Black and Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups. The Souther division disproportionately stops Latinx individuals relative to other racial groups.
This map shows the count of officer-initiated stops in 2022 by police beat for all police units and for the gang enforcement unit.